Personal details

• Belgian
• Born January 27, 1954 in Overmere, Belgium
• Married to Mireille Schreurs
• Two children : Frédéric and Jean-Jacques

Current functions

• Since February 2010 : European Commissioner for Trade

Political career

• 2009 - 2010 : European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid
• 2008 – 2009 : Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium
• 2006 – 2009 : Mayor of Berlare and Chairman of the Municipal Council 1
• 2004 – 2009 : Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Affairs
• 2007 – 2009 : Minister for International Trade
• 2003 – 2009 : Member of the Belgian House of Representatives
• 1999 – 2004 : National President of the VLD (Flemish Liberal and Democratic Party)
• 1995 – 2003 : Member of the Flemish Parliament
• 1994 – 1995 : Senator
• 1989 – 2009 : Municipal Councillor at Berlare 2
• 1985 – 1988 : National Vice-President of the PVV (Flemish Party for Freedom and Progress)
• 1983 – 1988 : Alderman responsible for Finance at Lebbeke
• 1980 – 1994 : Member of the European Parliament
• 1977 – 1979 : National President of the Young Flemish Liberal Movement
• Since 1977 : Member of the Bureau of the PVV/VLD political party
• 1975 – 1977 : National President of the Flemish Association of Liberal Students
• 1974 – 1975 : President of the Flemish Association of Liberal Students in Brussels

Professional career

• 1976 – 2001 : Lawyer
• 1991 – 2009 : Professor in European law at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
• Currently gives several hours of lectures in European law (free of charge) at the VUB

Education

• 1976 : Law degree, VUB
• 1971 : Secondary school certificate (Latin-Maths), Koninklijk Atheneum Aalst

Honorary title

• Minister of State since 2002

Publications

• Pluche – Over de banalisering van extreem rechts ["Pluche - On the banalisation of the extreme right"], Houtekiet, 2007, 174 p.
• De toekomst is vrij : over het liberalisme in de 21ste eeuw ["The future is free – On liberalism in the 21st century"], Houtekiet, 2002, 204 p.
• Het einde der pilaren : een Toscaans gesprek ["The end of religious and philosophical pillars in society – Tuscany conversations"]- with MEP Johan Van Hecke , Houtekiet, 2001, 205 p.
• Er zijn geen eilanden meer : over de democratie, vrijheid en de mensrechten ["No man is an island - On democracy, liberty and human rights"], - with Dirk Sterckx MEP, Houtekiet, 1999, 159 p.
• Time and tide wait for no man: the changing European geopolitical landscape, Praeger Publishers, 1991, 256 p

Languages

• Dutch : mother tongue
• French and English : excellent
• Italian : basic knowledge
• German : basic knowledge